The Five-Year Engagement

A year after meeting, Tom proposes to Violet. As they plan their wedding their lives place obstacles in their way, pushing them further apart while they watch their goofy friends make a success of their unplanned marriage.

The Five-Year Engagement has elements of romance and moments of comedy but however it may be packaged, it is not your standard rom-com. It is a well-realised drama focusing on the sacrifices that are made by couples. Segel plays Tom brilliantly, restraining his comedic talents and together with Blunt portray a couple that you know are in love and you just want them to be happy. While the story itself isn’t revolutionary, the approach is. The slow decay of the central relationship evokes a degree of pathos you don’t get in anything starring Jennifer Lopez, as you find yourself caring. It becomes uncomfortable in places where Tom and Violet make choices you wish they wouldn’t make but that you know they must. A film about the journey; a journey we will all make at some point in our lives.

Recommend

The Five-Year Engagement offers a more heartfelt reflection on love than most films about relationships and I really enjoyed it. I wouldn’t say this is a good date night film – it tugs on the heart strings but there are few large laughs – but it is definitely worth watching with Segel and Blunt both excellent.

The FriedGold rating – 8/10 – a whole lotta love

If you like this then you might like:

The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind – equally engaging but alternative look at the nature of relationships